A Fresh Take On Financeshttp://www.afreshtakeonfinances.com
Tue, 06 May 2014 20:03:45 +0000en-UShourly1Fast Fixer Uppers for your Credit Scorehttp://www.afreshtakeonfinances.com/fast-fixer-uppers-for-your-credit-score/
http://www.afreshtakeonfinances.com/fast-fixer-uppers-for-your-credit-score/#commentsTue, 14 Jan 2014 07:50:38 +0000adminhttp://www.afreshtakeonfinances.com/?p=54Lenders accommodate loans faster if borrowers keep their credit scores sparkly clean. Unfortunately, most borrowers rarely have good credit scores. If you are reading this article, chances are that you are one of them and need to fix your credit score fast for an investment. Have no fear. Here is how you can do just that –

Pay your Bills on time

Your credit won’t suffer if you pay your bills on time. Delinquencies such as unpaid bills can spoil a perfectly good credit score. Forgetting to pay your bills isn’t an option! Organize your budget. If you have bills that still need to be paid, save up by cutting down on other expenses such as your grocery bill to make up for the unpaid amount.

Pay down your Credit Card Bills

Speaking of bills, it won’t do to forget any credit card debt. You can jack up your credit score fast if you reduce the total debt on your credit report. However, you might not always have any cash handy in order to do that.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Don’t hesitate to borrow some funds from a friend or family friend if it will help you cover your debt. While it may not help you resolve your debt completely, initiatives such as these might help you reduce it considerably before your bad credit history becomes too much for you to handle.

Do not Max out your Credit Cards

This might be hard to do if you are a binge shopper. Discipline your spending habits and it won’t be a problem. It doesn’t matter if you pay off your balance every month. It’s best that you stay on the safe side. Keep your credit balance below 30%. Apply the same rule to every credit card you own instead of maxing out any one of them completely.

More Loan Inquiries

Lenders will pull out your credit score for inspection the moment you go loan shopping. You can increase your chances of acquiring a loan if you submit multiple applications to more lenders within two weeks. This might reduce your credit score but the system will probably not frown upon a cluster of inquiries for certain expenses such as loans on a home or car.

Reminders for Payments

This is a good way to increase your credit score in a timely manner. Some lenders or banks provide access to online portals that are designed to notify account holders for this very purpose. You are sent a text or email that reminds you when your next payment is due. All you have to do is check your email or texts on a regular basis

Some lenders also facilitate automatic payments that are designed withdraw funds from your bank account to help you keep up with regular payments. If all else fails, you can also create another account but only as needed. In the end, its best that you discipline your spending habits, pay your bills on time every time and keep your credit cards from maxing out.

]]>http://www.afreshtakeonfinances.com/fast-fixer-uppers-for-your-credit-score/feed/0Kitchener borrowing changeshttp://www.afreshtakeonfinances.com/kitchener-borrowing-changes/
http://www.afreshtakeonfinances.com/kitchener-borrowing-changes/#commentsTue, 26 Feb 2013 19:47:33 +0000adminhttp://www.afreshtakeonfinances.com/?p=25Kitchener borrowers have seen some changes to the lending market in their area. They have seen the Cash Store closed, and this has meant that they have had to change their borrowing habits. A big way that many of them are doing this is by looking to online lenders to fill the void.

It is not a bad strategy to turn to online lenders when the primary traditional payday lenders are disappearing. Some would even suggest that online loans in Kitchener are superior to their traditional counterparts to begin with. That mostly depends on what you are looking for in your loans, but there is certainly an argument to be had there.

Online lenders are able to provide instant access to their customers no matter what time of day it is. The customers in turn are able to potentially borrow their loan from the comfort of their own home if they should decide to.

Many customers prefer online loans in Kitchener to the loans they used to get from the brick and mortar lenders because they are able to stay behind the screen when they borrow. There is no worry that they are going to be seen by their fellow members of the town, and that provides great comfort to many. Financial matters are still largely considered to be private matters.

When applying for an online loan for the very first time, expect to have to take a little longer in order to provide all of the necessary documentation. That being said, once you have provided this documentation for the first time, you are good to go in the future. The process is going to be made much easier on you when you go back the second, third, fourth time and beyond. All of your information is saved, and you can apply for your next loan in just seconds.

It is important to note that online lenders are required to follow all of the same rules that other lenders have to follow. They are not allowed to get away with taking advantage of their customers, and you still have customer protections to help you. Make sure that you are aware of your rights in these situations. You do not want to end up getting taken for a ride because you did not keep up to date on all of the rules and regulations of the industry. Make sure you do your research before you decide to borrow from any lender.

]]>http://www.afreshtakeonfinances.com/kitchener-borrowing-changes/feed/0Debt Free Status: How to Achieve ithttp://www.afreshtakeonfinances.com/debt-free-status-how-to-achieve-it/
http://www.afreshtakeonfinances.com/debt-free-status-how-to-achieve-it/#commentsMon, 07 Jan 2013 07:16:36 +0000adminhttp://www.afreshtakeonfinances.com/?p=22Getting out of debt is not a dream but a reality which you can achieve by following some simple yet effective steps.

First and foremost, reduce your monthly expenses. In every category of your monthly expense, there is scope of reduction. Use your electrical appliances optimally, purchase grocery items intelligently, have food at home instead of at restaurants, avoid purchasing unnecessary items and you find a considerable saving in your account.

Increase your income. You can do this by earning more from your present job or by switching to a higher salaried job. However, your source of income is never restricted to your job alone. Earn money by selling your unnecessary items, by arranging a garage sale or from your existing investments.

Get into the habit of repaying your debts as soon as you have some extra money. Choosing the right debt account for earlier repayment is very important. You might be tempted to pay off your smallest debt account earlier to get the mental satisfaction of reduction in the number of debt accounts. However, it is better to choose the debt account with highest interest rate for earlier repayment. It saves you money in the long run which you would have otherwise paid in the form of interest.

]]>http://www.afreshtakeonfinances.com/debt-free-status-how-to-achieve-it/feed/0How To Get An Updated Credit Scorehttp://www.afreshtakeonfinances.com/how-to-get-an-updated-credit-score/
http://www.afreshtakeonfinances.com/how-to-get-an-updated-credit-score/#commentsSun, 30 Dec 2012 05:17:09 +0000adminhttp://www.afreshtakeonfinances.com/?p=19Your credit rating and score is an important number that can help you assess whether or not you can purchase certain items on credit, or see if there are items you still need to pay off first. Regular updates can also help you assess your financial performance over time. While the usual method of procuring your credit score isn’t free, there are ways for you to get an accurate estimate without spending too much.

First you will need to get a verified credit report. This document can be obtained for free from a few credit agencies. Your credit report is also essential for determining your credit score. This number unfortunately isn’t free, but you can get a rough estimate by taking your credit rating, and using an online bank rating to get your range.

The range might seem fairly wide, but it can already help you determine your future finances. Your score can indicate whether you should start paying your expenses on time, or whether you should cut back on credit purchases. Your score can also be a good reminder whenever you start thinking of buying luxuries you know you really can’t afford.

Updating yourself on your most recent credit score shouldn’t be a one time process. Ensure that you check up on credit scores at least two times a year. In this way, you can slowly build up your own credit history, and accurately track where your expenses will go from there.

The world of buying and selling is changing, and that means credit cards are actually becoming obsolete. Things are changing, and no more do people have the urge to swipe plastic. Buying is becoming more conventional, and more digital. Who needs a credit card, when you have a phone? A new technology that is making checking out faster than a swipe is causing a stir among consumers. NFC (near- field communications) is a popular way that consumers are checking out their purchases. It’s basically a digital wallet. Why carry cash when you have a phone? That’s exactly what NFC is all about, paying for things by cellphone.

Paying by cellphone is so popular, that many countries from overseas, like China have already started to make this new transaction the common way to pay for things. Credit cards aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, but you can’t deny how amazing it would be to buy some ice cream with the swipe of your cellphone. Although NFC (near- field communications) is a great way to purchase items, you can’t forget that with digital purchases, comes the onslaught of fraud. That’s why it is always important no matter technology you use, that you are always aware of your surroundings.

Most couples today, especially those who are married, opt for a joint savings and credit account in order to minimize confusion with regards to their household’s finances. In terms of building up a good credit rating however, a single account would be much better as it can build off from the individual spouse’s credit history.

Whether or not a couple decides on using a joint credit account, it’s always useful to have a separate credit card in the name of the husband or wife. This should be the practice if one of the spouses already had a good rating before they got together. In the same way, it’s good to have a separate bank account as it makes it less of a hassle to keep track of income and expenditures unlike a joint account where keeping track of everything that comes in and out is much harder.

As the couple finds more ways of keeping their accounts much more manageable, they should keep in mind that some of the most basic things can help build up their rating. Paying bills before they become due and at the minimum required amount will slowly but surely help create a strong foundation for the family’s credit future. This can then be used for larger borrowings such as car loans or mortgages without getting into too much hassle.

]]>http://www.afreshtakeonfinances.com/building-up-a-good-credit-rating-for-couples/feed/0How To Live An Affordable College Lifestylehttp://www.afreshtakeonfinances.com/how-to-live-an-affordable-college-lifestyle/
http://www.afreshtakeonfinances.com/how-to-live-an-affordable-college-lifestyle/#commentsFri, 30 Nov 2012 22:48:22 +0000adminhttp://www.afreshtakeonfinances.com/?p=8

College is a beast when it comes to eating through your finances, it doesn’t matter how much you save, there will always be temptation keeping you from your goals. If you’re a college student, and your wondering how you can save more money but still live a fun and healthy lifestyle, these tips will come in handy. The first thing a college student spends money on besides books is food. Not just regular grocery store food, expensive restaurant food that can add a huge dent in any wallet. Instead of heading out to buy a meal at your local restaurant, visit your local supermarket, and buy your own fresh food. It’s cheaper and it lasts longer. The next habit that must be broken are those trips to the theater. Movie tickets and the cost of movie food is rising every year, one date to the movies could easily set you back forty dollars. Instead, why not rent a movie and stay home and enjoy the food you already have, and the bonus is, it’s free. Having a free checking and savings account is also beneficial. Look for a bank that specializes in dealing with college students. Work with your bank to draft a financial goal plan, and you will live your college life debt free.

The holiday season is approaching, and that means Christmas shopping. Shopping for Christmas is so popular, that many people begin their shopping months before the holiday even start. If you’re looking for ways to save and tone down your Christians this year, here are some tips you can use, to make that happen. First of all, your credit card can be your best friend if your card comes with a reward option. For every holiday gift you purchase, you can put cash back onto your credit card. Contacting your credit card company before you start your shopping this year is a great way to earn and spend money on holiday gifts. Another cool tip is to save money by avoiding Christmas parties. They are fun to have, but there expensive. Save money by going to a cozy restaurant with a few friends and family, and keep that extra cash in your wallet. Another way to keep your cash in your wallet is to skip those holiday sales they toss at consumers each year. It’s stressful and overcrowded, and the savings aren’t even that great. Wait till the hoopla is over, and you’re sure to catch tons of deals on items you love. Gift giving is fun, but saving money while gift giving is even better.